Volunteers assisting the police also get food parcels
The volunteers have been working alongside the police in maintaining public safety and effective policing
People Matter Foundation (PMF) distributed 20 food parcels to community safety kiosk volunteers at Kempton Park Police Station on May 12.
PMF is an NPO that provides care and support for people in times of distress as a result of disasters.
Community safety kiosk volunteers assist residents in accessing basic services such as certification of documents, being the eyes of the police or shelter victims of violence while waiting for the police or emergency services to arrive.
The kiosk is the link between communities and their local police station, fitted with a radio and telephone. Volunteers dwell in various surrounding informal settlements in Kempton Park.
According to Kempton Park SAPS spokesperson Sgt Dipuo Ditshego, the volunteers have been working alongside the police in maintaining public safety and effective policing.
“They have been working hard amid the lockdown to assist the police in bettering the community. We are happy that our patrollers are also recognised, appreciated and remembered for their hard work. We have received the food parcels from PMF to give out to the helpers because they are also in need of food. We are pleased for the amazing generosity shown,” said Ditshego.
Mphiwa Malatji, the community safety kiosk volunteer group leader, thanked PMF for the generous donation of food.
“We thank the foundation for their humanity. We are among the most vulnerable. We are from the informal settlements. There are not enough food parcels distributed in the settlements and we are living in fear of starvation. We pray that the foundation continues helping others in difficult times,” said Malatji.
Bryan Tavarera, a member of PMF, advised the volunteers to assist the police in implementing the lockdown regulations and to keep safe by avoiding potential exposure to the virus.
“Volunteers must care for their body, mind and spirit. They must be filled with the Spirit in order to pour out to others. It is important that the volunteers pray and believe that Christ will protect them. Our job is to help people connect with God even in this difficult time,” said Tavarera.
